H. Res. 600 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

June 9, 2014. 

Whereas on April 5, 2014, the Government of Afghanistan 

held the first round of the presidential election in which 

voter participation was 60 percent; 

Whereas on May 15, 2014, Afghanistan’s Independent Election Commission (IEC) certified the results, and announced that a run-off election would be held on June 

14, 2014, because no candidate received more than 50 

percent of the votes; 

Whereas on May 14, 2014, the IEC invalidated votes from 

331 polling stations and removed them from the final 

tabulation, based on Electoral Complaints Commission 

(ECC) decisions; 

Whereas there have been widespread reports of voter and 

election monitor intimidation, including the killing of 

members of the National Democratic Institute (NDI) 

during an attack at the Serena Hotel in Kabul on March 

20, 2014, as well as attempts to bribe members of the 

IEC, the ECC, and other election monitoring organizations; 

Whereas investigations by the ECC, and its coordination with 

the IEC, have not been conducted in a transparent manner; 
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•HRES 600 EH 

Whereas 17 members of the Afghanistan National Security 

Forces (ANSF) were killed in Taliban and insurgent attacks while supporting the April 5, 2014, elections; 

Whereas the United States and Afghanistan signed the Enduring Strategic Partnership Agreement to strengthen 

Afghan sovereignty, stability, and prosperity, while emphasizing a shared goal to defeat al-Qaeda and its terrorist affiliates; 

Whereas United States and coalition armed forces have 

greatly contributed to the stability and security of Afghanistan at a considerable personal sacrifice; and 

Whereas the United States has contributed more than 

$100,000,000 toward the 2014 Afghan presidential election: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

(1) commends the Government of Afghanistan for 

holding a successful first round of the presidential election and expresses strong support for a credible, inclusive, and transparent second round on June 14, 2014; 

(2) supports the mandate of Afghan electoral bodies 

such as the Independent Election Commission (IEC) and 

the Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) to administer, adjudicate, and manage polls, as well as oversee 

logistical and technical preparations in a transparent, 

fair, and credible manner to prevent fraud and misconduct; 
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(3) encourages the Government of Afghanistan to 

implement measures that will increase voter participation, particularly among the Afghan female population; 

(4) recognizes the determination of the Afghan people to exercise their right to vote and determine their 

country’s destiny; 

(5) urges the Government of Afghanistan to take 

steps to assure that fraudulent electoral activities do not 

take place during the runoff; 

(6) urges the IEC to adopt measures to better mitigate fraud, improve electoral transparency of the polling 

and counting process, and communicate these measures 

clearly and consistently to the people of Afghanistan; 

(7) urges close and continuing communication between the IEC and the Afghanistan National Security 

Forces (ANSF) to identify and provide security for vulnerable areas of the country during the election period; 

(8) encourages all elements of Afghan society to refrain from fomenting violence and other disturbances in 

voting areas; 

(9) urges the ANSF to make every necessary effort 

to ensure the safety of voters, candidates, poll workers, 

and election observers; 

(10) expresses its support for the full participation 

of Afghan civil society in the election process; 
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•HRES 600 EH 

(11) recognizes that a democratically-elected government that reflects the will of the Afghan people and 

is committed to combating terrorism would promote the 

long-term stability and security interests of Afghanistan, 

its neighbors, and its partners in the North Atlantic 

Treaty Organization International Security Assistance 

Force, including the United States; and 

(12) recognizes the sacrifices of United States and 

coalition armed forces that have contributed, and will 

continue to contribute, to the security and stability of 

Afghanistan. 

Attest: 

Clerk.